Optometric lens trial frame

ABSTRACT

A trial frame is disclosed presenting pairs of lens holders on one or both sides of a common beam for ocular therapy and testing by a plurality of test lenses. Each lens frame holder is grooved to simultaneously accommodate plural lenses and may completely or partially encircle lenses to releasably hold them. Secured at each lateral extremity of the common beam is an elastic head band to quickly and securely position the test frame for use especially as on an active younger child.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Related Applications

There are no applications for patent relating hereto heretofore filed inthis or any foreign country.

2. Field of the Invention

My invention relates generally to optometric lens test frames andparticuarly to a frame quickly securable by a head band to enable use onactive younger children.

3. Background and Description of Prior Art

Optometric lens trial frames are well established in the prior art tocorrect and treat various eye disorders.

Due to the complexity of eye focusing maladies that are common inhumans, a variety of lenses of different focal length and type must beavailable and utilized in a trail apparatus. For example, a focusingdefect known as astignatism in which a refracting surface of an eye hasunequal curvature, requires a particular lens curvature for correction.Lenses are employed using a combination of spherical and cylindricalcurvature so that a remedial spectacle lens and the eye lens incombination achieve a correct focusing. Asymmetrical and prismaticlenses have been developed to correct visual abnormalities and withtheir use it is critical that these lenses be accurately positionablewithin a trial lens structure. Focusing problems may include not onlythose problems associated with a human lens but also an inability of ahuman eye's associated muscle structure to manipulate the lens tocontrol focusing in the eye or its axial direction. These problems,exemplified by a lazy eye syndrome, require particular lensconstructions to re-train and strengthen problem eye muscles.

It is important in optometric therapy that a chosen focal distance andorientation of trial lenses relative to a human eye be constantlymaintained to accurately determine the appropriateness and effectivenessof lenses used. During focusing tests many different individual lensesand combinations may be utilized to determine what lens construction ismost advantageous for a particular patient involved.

Various devices have in the past been developed to provide a fixedorientation of trial lens apparatus relative to human eyes. Such deviceshave often provided bulky self-supporting structures developed withcomplex mountings to accommodate a plurality of lenses in either singleor dual frame constructions. There have been helmet constructions toposition lenses with various lateral and vertical structural elements toproperly orient the trial lenses. These have been structurallyassociated by means of elaborate linkages and pivots to accommodatevarious head shapes that are found in humans. Adding to the fittingcomplexity is the problem of heads shaped in a myriad of configurationalcombinations including sloping, receding foreheads associated withvarying oblong, round and ovoid shapes of cranial structures that createan inordinately large potential combination of heads to be accommodated.As a result, devices of the past have often been deficient in providingcomfort while simultaneously effecting the critically accuratepositioning of lenses to be tested or utilized in therapy.

Problems associated with prior art lens testing devices are magnifiedwhen applied to particular groups of patients. Particularly whenchildren are tested or treated added factors enter the procedure, andwhen considering the large number of young children in modern societyneeding corrective lenses, they require particular accommodation.Children are very active their patience and attention span, relative toadults, is limited. Accordingly they do not, in many instances, serenelyaccept being subjected to the typical bulky and complex structuresassociated with lens testing and treatment devices. To complicate theprocedures even further, children's imaginations are normally veryactive and therefore awkward and complex trial lens devices oftenassociated with a testing or treatment procedure may appear ominous to ayoung child and even prevent a proper diagnosis, evaluation or treatmentof a child's optical requirements. Since a child's first impression ofwhat he might have to undergo to achieve a proper optical correction isimportant, confrontation with an unwiedly test apparatus may prevent achild not only from being properly fitted but also, even if fitted, frombeing amenable to wearing the product emanating from an unpleasantexperience.

A significant feature of my invention is the use of my optical testframe on children to allow use of various prescription lenses arerequired for exercising eyes and correcting maladies associated with eyemuscle coordination. Even considering the active nature of children, asnoted, the optical test frame apparatus may be worn comfortably forperiods of time and a child will not be prone to remove, disturb orshift the test lens apparatus. The apparatus is light weight andaccordingly exercise to treat an eye malady may be performed in anefficient and comfortable manner. Furthermore with the multiple lensholding feature of the invention, different refractive lens combinationsmay be presented to a child's eyes to assist and enhance the correctiveprocedure.

The willingness of a child to accept my improved test frame device willexpedite its use in corrective activities required to strengthen andexercise particular eye muscles and functions. Particularly my testframe has proven to be valuable in treating eye disorders such asstrabismias, the common cross-eye syndrome where the eyes will not alignand focus properly, amblyopia where one eye will focus and the other isinhibited, and even ocular suppresseion that has its psychological basisin mis-controlling eye muscles to avoid diplopia, a double vision.

The instant invention is distinguished from the prior art not in any oneof these features per se, but rather in the combination of all of themto synergistically provide the unique functions necessarily flowingtherefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a light weight, versatile and compactoptical test frame that maintains trial lenses at stable and fixedpositions relative to the lens of human eyes.

My invention comprises a central horizontal bar with sets of pairs oflens holders symmetrically arranged and formed integrally to said bar oneither side to maintain precise alignment.

One set of lens holders is formed with flexible fingers thatcircumferentially grip lenses to be tested about major portion of theirperiphery, to allow quick interchangability. The other set of lensholders completely encircle lens to more securely hold lens, andparticularly non-symmetrically ground lenses, in fixed angularpositions.

The test frame provides layered construction with test framesmechanically secured together to form lens holders for two or morelenses in axial alignment to enable use of combinations of variouslenses.

Secured at the lateral extremities of the horizontal bar is an elasticband adjustable to accommodate various head shapes that will beencountered.

My test frame with such a band is pivotal about the horizontal bar andtherefore does not have to be removed from a user to quickly presentalternate optical refractions from lenses on both sides to a patient.

In creating such a device, it is:

A principal object of my invention to provide a patient supported,light-weight and durable optometric test frame especially adapted foruse on children.

A further object of my invention to create an optometric test frame thatreleasably secures multiple sets of optically refractory lenses for useon a patient.

Another object of my invention to provide an optometric test frame withan elastic head band to securely but comfortably position the test frameduring use.

Yet another object of my invention to provide such a test frame that ispivotal about its central bar to enable the presentation of two sets ofpairs of refractory lenses to a user without removal of the device fromthe user.

A still further object of my invention to provide such a device that isof new and novel design, of rugged and durable nature, of simple andeconomic manufacture, and one otherwise well suited to the uses andpurposes of which it is intended.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the followingspecification and accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. Incarrying out the objects of my invention, however, it is to beunderstood that its essential features are susceptible of change indesign and structural arrangement with only one practical and preferredembodiment being illustrated in the accompanying drawings as isrequired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein likenumbers of reference refer to smaller parts throughout:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of my invention showing its various parts,their configuration and relationship.

FIG. 2 is an orthographic frontal view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an orthographic side view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a somewhat enlarged, orthographic, cross-sectional viewthrough the lens holder of FIG. 2, taken on the line 4---4 thereon inthe direction indicated by the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

My inventioon comprises generally lens frame holder 10 supportable andsecurable about the head of the patient by elastic head band 20.

The lens frame holder may be formed of unitary construction or, as shownin FIG. 1, of two similar frame halves 11 and 12 secured together by theassembly fasteners 13. The use of assembled frame halves allows theassociation of two lens frame holders to accommodate two lenses in anaxially aligned array. Conventional fasteners 13, such as rivets, may beutilized for the assembly of the frame halves, or adhesives may be usedto bond the frame halves together.

As illustrated, upper lens holder members 14 are formed of flexible,partially encircling finger elements 14a and 14b providing peripherallens contact over an angle greater than 180 degrees and less than 360degrees to removably, yet firmly, secure lenses. Lower lens holdermembers 15 are formed of completely encircling frame elements 15a and15b that are inserted in a conventional heated optical bath to thermallyexpand them and allow for the insertion of lenses that are securely andnon-rotatably positioned as the lens holders cool and shrink.Accordingly a lens holder depicted by numeral 14 may carry asymmetrically ground lens and may be associated with encircling lensholder 15 where a prismatic lens, for example, may be held in acompletely nonslip arrangement.

Lens frame holder 10 is symmetrically formed about an axis extendingmedially lengthwise of central longitudinal support 10a. Such symmetryenables respective finger elements 14a and 14b to be paired withrespective encircling elements 15a and 15b upon rotation of frame half12, 180 degrees relative to frame half 11. Mechanical joining byfasteners 13 enables such reorientation of frame halves 11 and 12 afterdisassembly providing additional user flexibility in lens selection.

The assembled frame halves have formed within the lens holder's innerperipheral surface at least two grooves per assembled lens holder 14, 15as depicted by numeral 16 in the illustration of FIG. 4. These groovesare bounded by ridges 17 whereby at least two lenses may be secured inaxial alignment in each lens holder to provide greater refractive poweror refinement or modification as desired by a practitioner. Additionalgrooves (not shown) may be provided to hold additional lens, but this ingeneral is not necessary in ordinary optometric practice.

Distal ends 18 of lens frame 10 define slots 19 to accommodate loop endsof elastic head band 20. These loop ends are adjustably secured byconventional friction clasps 21. From a single adjustment, band 20 mayaccommodate a variety of head shapes without additional adjustment, byreason of its elastic deformability. The head band itself is formed ofcommercially available elastomeric material suitable for such purposes.Alternatives, other than slots 19, may be utilized by one skilled in theart to attach elastic head band 20 to the test frame. Various mechanicalconnecftions and pivots may be used for economy and expediency, as wellas other fasteners that efficient manufacture may dictate.

In use the test frame apparatus is secured about the head of thepatient, generally after the proper combination of lenses is insertedwithin the various lens holders. As may become necessary the head bandmay be adjusted by manipulation of clasps 21.

When the test frame is used for therapeutic purposes, the lens holder isused for a period of time during which a patient exercises his eyes. Ifasymmetric lenses be used for therapy, the lower lens holders are mostappropriate. To access them lens frame 10 may be pivoted about thedistal looped ends of the head-band without removal from a patient'shead for subsequent use of the completely encircling lens holders. Asimilar procedure is utilized when the test frame holder is again usedfor comparative refractive testing by a practitioner to ascertain theoptimum prescriptions among various lens. The flexible fingers of lensholders 14 enable rapid changing of lenses without removal from thewearer's head, to advance a testing procedure without unduly taxing thewearer's patience or comfort.

The foregoing description of my invention is necessarily of a detailednature so that a specific embodiment of it might be set forth asrequired, but it is to be understood that various modifications ofdetail, rearrangement and multiplication of parts might resorted towithout departing from its spirit, essence or scope.

Having thusly described my invention, what I desire to protect byLetters Patent, and what I claim is:
 1. In a test frame for optometrictherapy and testing, that is secured to a wearer's head, and hasa rigidcentral longitudinal support, first and second pairs of lens holdermembers secured to opposite sides of said central support, each memberof a lens holder pair positioned on the same side of said support, saidsupport being formed with distal ends including attachment means, and aresilient head band, for fastening about a wearer's head, secured to theattachment means of the longitudinal support for enabling rotary motionof the test frame about the support without removal from the wearer'shead, the invention comprising: the test frame being formed of aplurality of frame halves each half formed with two pairs of lens holderelements with fastening means to secure said frame halves together toform said pairs of lens holder members.
 2. An optical test frame as setforth in claim 1 wherein said central longitudinal support's attachmentmeans includes a slot defined inwardly adjacent each distal end of thesupport to enable the resilient head band to be secured and attachedtherethrough.
 3. An optical test frame as set forth in claim 2 andwhereinone of said pairs of lens holders members is comprised of aplurality of resilient arcuate finger elements of less than 360 degreesof arc and wherein the other of said pairs of lens holder members iscomprised of a plurality of encircling ring elements of 360 degrees ofarc, and at least said encircling ring elements are formed of materialmanipulable when heated by immersion in a suitable heated bath materialto enable insertion of lenses therein.
 4. An optical test frame as setforth in claim 2 wherein each lens holder member is comprised of aresilient arcuate finger element of more than 180 degrees and less than360 degrees of arc associated with an encircling ring element of 360degrees of arc.
 5. An optical test frame as set forth in claim 2 wheresaid lens holder members are each formed with an internal peripheralsurface of alternating ridges and grooves to accommodate the securepositioning of lenses.
 6. A test frame for optometric therapy andtesting, when secured to a wearer's head, comprising in combination:arigid central longitudinal support, first and second pairs of lensholder members secured to opposite sides of said central support, eachmember of a lens holder pair positioned on the same side of saidsupport, said support formed with distal ends including attachmentmeans, and said test frame formed of a plurality of frame halves eachhalf formed with two pairs of lens holder elements and fastening meansto secure said frame halves together to form said pairs of lens holdermembers; and a resilient head band for fastening about a wearer's headsecured to the attachment means of the longitudinal support to enablerotary motion of the test frame about the support without removal fromthe wearer's head.